E-TOOLS AND TEACHING ESL THROUGH DISTANCE EDUCATION

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E-TOOLS AND TEACHING ESL THROUGH DISTANCE
EDUCATION

• Veronica Baig
• Corinne Bossé
• Debra Hoven
• Tunde Tuzes
• ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY

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OVERVIEW

• Introductions and background information
• Moodlea Learning Management System
• Voice/ Video Communication
• VOIP systems, Elluminate
• Discussion Boards
• Blogging
• Free writing, Interactive exercises
• Collaborative Writing
• Peer Editing, Wikis
• Whats New?
• m-learning, e-portfolios, digital story telling,
  Me2U, facebook,

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Who are we?

• Veronica Baig, Academic Coordinator, English
  Language Studies
• veronica_at_athabascau.ca
• Corinne Bossé, Instructional Media Analyst
• corinneb_at_athabascau.ca
• Debra Hoven, Associate Professor, Centre for
  Distance Education
• debrah_at_athabascau.ca
• Tunde Tuzes, Write Site Facilitator/Engl 255
  instructor
• tundet_at_athabascu.ca

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Background Information

• Athabasca University
• is Canadas largest, and most flexible, open
  and distance education provider. More than 37,000
  students are studying undergraduate courses and
  approximately 3,200 students are enrolled in
  graduate degrees
• AU Calendar

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ELS/ESL/ WRITING/TESL

• 6 ESL/ELS courses all at the preparatory level
• 4 are zero credit courses
• 2 may be taken for credit
• 2 Writing coursesnon-ESL but with ESL support
• 1 preparatorypossible credit
• 1 first yearfull credit
• Graduate students in MAIS and CDE who have an
  interest in TESL projects

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SOME DICHOTOMIES

• Undergraduate (including preparatory)
• Individual study
• Asynchronous delivery
• Internet optional
• Graduate
• Paced, cohort based study
• Synchronous delivery
• Internet required

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WHY BLOG?

• Provides students with a sense of community
• Allows for increased interaction
• Permits mini-lessons
• Provides a wider audience
• Keeps students involved
• Practices specific skills

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ELS BLOGS

• Different format than most blogs
• Not a chronological log
• Welcome
• Course announcements
• Weekly participatory activities
• Side bar for course related information,
  resources, and mini-lessons
• Footer for mini-lessons

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ENGL 140 GRAMMAR

• http//english140blog.blogspot.com/
• Interactive activities
• Grammar Question
• Vocabulary
• Exam Practice
• Sentence Completion
• Sidebar
• Module/Assignment Links
• Footer
• Wimba/Mini-Lessons

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ENGL 177 ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES

• http//engl177blog.blogspot.com/
• Interactive Activities
• Sentence Completion
• Grammar Question
• Sentence Combination
• Vocabulary
• Half-Way There Challenge

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ENGL 189 ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS

• http//english189.blogspot.com/
• Interactive Activities
• Grammar Question
• Plain English
• In The News
• Vocabulary

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RESOURCES

• Electronic Village Online (TESOL)
• http//academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer-ramazani/TESOL/E
  VOL/portal.htm
• Blogging4Beginners
• http//bloggingforbeginners.pbwiki.com/
• Podcasting
• http//www.slideshare.net/ClaudiaB/podomatic-creat
  e-or-upload-audio-files-and-post-them-to-your-blog
  /
• Widgets
• http//widgets.yahoo.com/